A seismic event of magnitude 6.7 jolted the southern Andes Mountains in Peru, causing injuries to two individuals and causing structural damage to residences, medical facilities, and educational institutions, as per authorities. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) indicated that the earthquake took place at 1 p.m. local time, with its epicenter situated 38 kilometers northwest of Upahuacho city in the Parinacochas province of Ayacucho. The seismic activity occurred at a depth of 66 kilometers.
The tremor was perceptible in various regions of southern Peru, encompassing Ica, Arequipa, Huancavelica, Apurimac, Cusco, and even Lima, the capital city. Luis Vasquez, the head of Civil Defence, mentioned that two individuals sustained injuries while vacating their residences during the quake in Coracora, the principal city of Parinacochas province.
Authorities also disclosed that 22 residences, six medical facilities, and a school encountered damage in multiple districts of Ayacucho and Cusco, including Puquio, Pullo, Coracora, Upahuacho, San Pedro, and Pichari. Peru, being situated in the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” experiences frequent seismic events.
The region had previously experienced a devastating quake in 2007, measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale, in the Ica province, resulting in the loss of nearly 600 lives.